Self-powered recharge system and method

Abstract

A self-powered recharge system and method for battery operated vehicles. The self-powered recharge system includes a vehicle driven by a motor that utilizes a plurality of assemblies for recovering energy to a power source of the vehicle. The system includes a wind capturing assembly having a turbine disposed within pass through areas of the vehicle and is operably connected to the power source. The system also includes a kinetic recapture assembly having a gear operably connected to a component of the vehicle, wherein the component is selected from at least one of: an axle and a driveshaft. The kinetic recapture assembly is able to recover energy from a braking operation and is used to re-charge the power source. In one embodiment, the recharge system further provides a solar panel and thermal recapture assembly including a Rankine cycle device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A recharge system for a vehicle with an on-board power source, comprising:
 a vehicle comprising a body and driven by a motor;   a wind capturing assembly comprising:
 a turbine disposed within pass through areas of the vehicle operably connected to the power source; 
   a kinetic recapture assembly comprising:
 a gear operably connected to a component of the vehicle, wherein the component is selected from at least one of: an axle and a driveshaft; 
 wherein the kinetic recapture assembly is operably connected to an alternator, the alternator is configured to provide electrical power to the power source; 
   a solar panel configured to provide electrical power to the power source.   
     
     
         2 . The recharge system of  claim 1 , wherein the wind capturing assembly is adapted to activate when an air velocity is detected above a threshold by a first sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The recharge system of  claim 2 , wherein the wind capturing assembly is activated above 30 miles per hour. 
     
     
         4 . The recharge system of  claim 1 , wherein the kinetic recapture assembly is adapted to activate when an RPM of the component is detected above a threshold by a second sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The recharge system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal recapture assembly adapted to collect heat energy from the vehicle and provide electrical energy to the power source. 
     
     
         6 . The recharge system of  claim 5 , wherein the thermal recapture assembly is a Rankine cycle device. 
     
     
         7 . The recharge system of  claim 6 , wherein the Rankine cycle device includes a high-pressure water pump adapted to force water into an evaporator, which converts the water into steam using the heat energy, wherein the steam is in fluid communication with a volumetric expander that uses the steam to rotate an electric generator, which produces a current that is utilized to charge the power source. 
     
     
         8 . The recharge system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel is located on a roof of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The recharge system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is selected from the following: car, truck, or train. 
     
     
         10 . A method of recharging a battery-operated vehicle with a self-powered recharge system, the method comprising:
 providing the self-powered recharge system including:
 a wind capturing assembly comprising:
 a turbine disposed within pass through areas of the vehicle operably connected to a power source; 
 
 a kinetic recapture assembly comprising:
 a gear operably connected to a component of the vehicle, wherein the component is selected from at least one of: an axle and a driveshaft; 
 wherein the kinetic recapture assembly is operably connected to an alternator, the alternator is configured to provide electrical power to the power source; 
 
 a solar panel configured to provide electrical power to the power source; 
 a controller having a logic, that when executed by a processor, is configured to control the wind capturing assembly and the kinetic recapture assembly; 
   generating electrical energy at the wind recapture assembly when a first sensor detects a speed of the vehicle above a predetermined threshold;   generating electrical energy at the kinetic recapture assembly when a second sensor detects a speed of an RPM of the component is detected above a predetermined threshold.